Evelyn awoke startled but only to find herself in the comfort of her brother's arms. She felt a draft and slowly slid from Heero's grasp and put a shawl over herself and lifted the lock on her door. She entered the dark hallway taking a lit candle that was set besides her on a table. She lifted the long stick and crept quietly towards the main hall of the great king. She found that the room held a strange erie air so thick it tickled the insides of her throat. Her eyes' gaze fell upon the great throne of the king. To her surprise the throne was not empty but a dark figure sat upon it, it's shadow too large to be her own father's. She squinted her eyes and took a couple of steps foward.
"Father? Father is that you?" She said holding the candle out farher hoping to illuminate the mystery man's face.
"Hello Princess, it's late for you to be wandering. Your dwelling belongs in the chambers of your room my lady." The figure stood showing his great broad back and keeping his back straight. His height was just about the same as her brother's. She gave him a glare promising punishment.
"Show yourself before your Princess!" He stepped into the light showing his almost black hair bound by a leather strap. He wore a heavy coat made of mountain lion. She gasp at the gaping scar running along his cheek bone. "I said identify yourself!"
"I am Arden the kings faithful servant and new advisor. I kneel before you in service." He said smiling sinically to her. "What may I help you with? Perhaps a midnight walk outside will please her highness?" he laughed.
"You will not speak of such things!" He leaped off the steps of the throne almost landing on top of her. He breathed deeply smelling the faintest scent of wild orchids that grew on the outskirts of the farthest corners of the kingdom. He inhaled of her deeply before placing a hand on her hair feeling it between his fingers. She pushed him away raising her hand to slap him but he stopped her in mid attack.
"You will remove your dirty fingers from her and take back many steps before I slit your throat open and leave you to the wolves to feast upon your decaying carcass." Evelyn spun around to see Heero standing a foot away from her with his sword unsheathed from its case. Aden let go of the princess and she ran to her brother's side.
"I assure you if your king entrusts the power to govern and judge all those who are persecuted you can do the same" Aden said bowing. Heero silently took Evelyn's hand and led her back to her room.
"Go to bed and sleep. I will talk to father about this new advisor in the morning."
"Wait, don't leave. Tell me the story about the all powerful ring." Relena sitting up on her bed and throwing her blanket over her body. Heero sighed pulling a chair over to the edge of her bed.
"Long ago men, dwarves, elves and the immortal had an alliance. Each was given a ring to keep their kingdoms with great power, but little did they know that there was one master ring. ln time they realized that they were decieved and that the master key now held the power to control over the other rings. The dark creature by the name Saurun ruled over all the kingdoms of earth for many centuries until man could not hold under their power. So they had a great war. Man against demon. A brave prince by the name Merlem had one golden opportunity to cut the finger of Saurun off and so he did. Saurun was now powerless over the kingdoms and yet still smaller battles continued. The demons disperesed and many men slain them. They all settled down and what was to be forgotten was not. Someone has the ring. I can feel it. Many years of battle and death will come. I think that Arden is under the influence of that ring. It's power is unimagineable and can only be destroyed in the deep fires of Mordor. Someone has a hold of that ring and it will destroy father's kingdom. I can't let that happen. The necklace, I think it was a gift from God. He has sent a sign. Never lose that necklace. It is the only thing that will save you. Evelyn looked down at the necklace with fear in her eyes.
'Evelyn I promise nothing will happen to you or father. I won't let it." with that he reached over the covers to hug his one and only younger sister. Heero stood putting the candles out one by one, not suspecting that Arden was already constructing an evil plan.Arden sat in the throne of the great king tracing the edge of his scared face with a long narrow finger.
"Dark Lord, I have done what you have commanded. By daylight the castle guards will see that there are traces of Heero's clothing in the King's chambers. They will think he tried to kill the great king."he smiled when he saw a black sphere form. A voice rang from it, "You have done well." Arden snuck down the long dark corridor to the chambers of the king where he left a dagger on the ground by his bed and yelled for help.
"Guards! Guards! Someone has tried to murder your great and honorable king! Justice must be given!" Guards poured into the room. An officer picked up Heero's shirt with his sword. Eyeing it closely he spoke, "It is prince Heero's."
"I will not have justice go unserved in this kingdom. Bring him to me."
~*~*~*~*~
Heero woke with a startle as he heard cries for the royal guards. He jumped to his feet and found Evelyn sleeping. He gripped the handle of his sword tightly as he heard footsteps approach. "Open up!" The guard banged. Evelyn stirred rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She sat up as the door was knocked down as dozens of guards poured into the room.
"What is the meaning of this? I demand that you answer me!" Evelyn said standing tall and straight.
"Your heighness, the king has commanded us to bound your brother and bring him to the throne room."
"I will go without bindings." The guards followed Heero out as Evelyn strode behind them all. Entering the great hall Arden was standing to the right of the king, with his arm draped on the armrest of the throne.
"Father, you have requested my presence?" The king smiled but soon faded as he looked at his daughter.
"You love your sister and I do you not?"
"Father that is such a ridulous question. Of course I love you and Evelyn, I would dearly lay my life in return for your safety." The king stroked his beard at this.
"Then why is it that you tried to murder me?" Heero's eyes widened at this statement.
"Father I have been taught only to do good and to use my strength and honor. I have never in my life had rebuked you or any of our ancestors before us. Do not question my loyalty to this family.
"I have bore a son from a demon. You lie. I will not tolerate this. Let it be known and written that the heir to the thrown has now been banished from this Kingdom and the new prince to inherit this land will be Arden. Save your worthless words and be gone. Give him a days worth of bread and water. Nothing more and nothing less. One steed will do and let him ride out of the kingdom's gates."
"Father! He was in my room the whole night. You know he would never dare lay an evil hand upon you! You must believe me!" Evelyn pleaded. His father turned his head waving his hands. At his command the guards dragged Heero outside to the gates where they tied a sack of bread and water onto the sattle of the horse. Heero mounted and looked at his sister. The corners of her eyes glistened with tears.
"Look for me in the kingdom of the elves. Magic is involved and I know that this cannot be defeated with mere swords and arrows."
"Brother I will search for you. I swear it. In daylight think of me. On the rainy days look to the north where the Drylanda orchids grow and remember my scent. Do not forget to search for me as well. I dare not live without you near me!"
"Heero andelu i ven."
"The road will be more dangerous for you. For me it is but an adventure. Be careful and do not forget me."
"You are eternally my brother." Evelyn said blowing a kiss and prayer to him. *Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i valar tielyanna nu vilya.* Out of outrage to Arden, Evelyn tracked up the great winding stairs into the castle and stood in front of the king and Arden.
"You have done a wrong justice father and it will not go unnoticed. Heero has always gone out of his way to help the people of our great Kingdom and now you are to let this cruel and unjust man take the throne after your death?"
"Silence! Of all the years that you have lived under my rule have I ever heard such an untrue and hateful statement to an honorable man." Arden smiled and lowered his head to the ear of the king. He whispered in a low tone. The king left his throne as Evelyn eyed Arden.
~*~*~*~Heero~*~*~*~
Night had already fallen so quickly and Heero rode off swiftly. He saw that the soil was soft from morning rainfall. He slowed and mounted off his horse to take a closer look at the ground. He saw fresh horse tracks and calculated that there were at least a dozen horses. Before he could stand completely he was hit by darkness.
"Father? Father is that you?" She said holding the candle out farher hoping to illuminate the mystery man's face.
"Hello Princess, it's late for you to be wandering. Your dwelling belongs in the chambers of your room my lady." The figure stood showing his great broad back and keeping his back straight. His height was just about the same as her brother's. She gave him a glare promising punishment.
"Show yourself before your Princess!" He stepped into the light showing his almost black hair bound by a leather strap. He wore a heavy coat made of mountain lion. She gasp at the gaping scar running along his cheek bone. "I said identify yourself!"
"I am Arden the kings faithful servant and new advisor. I kneel before you in service." He said smiling sinically to her. "What may I help you with? Perhaps a midnight walk outside will please her highness?" he laughed.
"You will not speak of such things!" He leaped off the steps of the throne almost landing on top of her. He breathed deeply smelling the faintest scent of wild orchids that grew on the outskirts of the farthest corners of the kingdom. He inhaled of her deeply before placing a hand on her hair feeling it between his fingers. She pushed him away raising her hand to slap him but he stopped her in mid attack.
"You will remove your dirty fingers from her and take back many steps before I slit your throat open and leave you to the wolves to feast upon your decaying carcass." Evelyn spun around to see Heero standing a foot away from her with his sword unsheathed from its case. Aden let go of the princess and she ran to her brother's side.
"I assure you if your king entrusts the power to govern and judge all those who are persecuted you can do the same" Aden said bowing. Heero silently took Evelyn's hand and led her back to her room.
"Go to bed and sleep. I will talk to father about this new advisor in the morning."
"Wait, don't leave. Tell me the story about the all powerful ring." Relena sitting up on her bed and throwing her blanket over her body. Heero sighed pulling a chair over to the edge of her bed.
"Long ago men, dwarves, elves and the immortal had an alliance. Each was given a ring to keep their kingdoms with great power, but little did they know that there was one master ring. ln time they realized that they were decieved and that the master key now held the power to control over the other rings. The dark creature by the name Saurun ruled over all the kingdoms of earth for many centuries until man could not hold under their power. So they had a great war. Man against demon. A brave prince by the name Merlem had one golden opportunity to cut the finger of Saurun off and so he did. Saurun was now powerless over the kingdoms and yet still smaller battles continued. The demons disperesed and many men slain them. They all settled down and what was to be forgotten was not. Someone has the ring. I can feel it. Many years of battle and death will come. I think that Arden is under the influence of that ring. It's power is unimagineable and can only be destroyed in the deep fires of Mordor. Someone has a hold of that ring and it will destroy father's kingdom. I can't let that happen. The necklace, I think it was a gift from God. He has sent a sign. Never lose that necklace. It is the only thing that will save you. Evelyn looked down at the necklace with fear in her eyes.
'Evelyn I promise nothing will happen to you or father. I won't let it." with that he reached over the covers to hug his one and only younger sister. Heero stood putting the candles out one by one, not suspecting that Arden was already constructing an evil plan.Arden sat in the throne of the great king tracing the edge of his scared face with a long narrow finger.
"Dark Lord, I have done what you have commanded. By daylight the castle guards will see that there are traces of Heero's clothing in the King's chambers. They will think he tried to kill the great king."he smiled when he saw a black sphere form. A voice rang from it, "You have done well." Arden snuck down the long dark corridor to the chambers of the king where he left a dagger on the ground by his bed and yelled for help.
"Guards! Guards! Someone has tried to murder your great and honorable king! Justice must be given!" Guards poured into the room. An officer picked up Heero's shirt with his sword. Eyeing it closely he spoke, "It is prince Heero's."
"I will not have justice go unserved in this kingdom. Bring him to me."
~*~*~*~*~
Heero woke with a startle as he heard cries for the royal guards. He jumped to his feet and found Evelyn sleeping. He gripped the handle of his sword tightly as he heard footsteps approach. "Open up!" The guard banged. Evelyn stirred rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She sat up as the door was knocked down as dozens of guards poured into the room.
"What is the meaning of this? I demand that you answer me!" Evelyn said standing tall and straight.
"Your heighness, the king has commanded us to bound your brother and bring him to the throne room."
"I will go without bindings." The guards followed Heero out as Evelyn strode behind them all. Entering the great hall Arden was standing to the right of the king, with his arm draped on the armrest of the throne.
"Father, you have requested my presence?" The king smiled but soon faded as he looked at his daughter.
"You love your sister and I do you not?"
"Father that is such a ridulous question. Of course I love you and Evelyn, I would dearly lay my life in return for your safety." The king stroked his beard at this.
"Then why is it that you tried to murder me?" Heero's eyes widened at this statement.
"Father I have been taught only to do good and to use my strength and honor. I have never in my life had rebuked you or any of our ancestors before us. Do not question my loyalty to this family.
"I have bore a son from a demon. You lie. I will not tolerate this. Let it be known and written that the heir to the thrown has now been banished from this Kingdom and the new prince to inherit this land will be Arden. Save your worthless words and be gone. Give him a days worth of bread and water. Nothing more and nothing less. One steed will do and let him ride out of the kingdom's gates."
"Father! He was in my room the whole night. You know he would never dare lay an evil hand upon you! You must believe me!" Evelyn pleaded. His father turned his head waving his hands. At his command the guards dragged Heero outside to the gates where they tied a sack of bread and water onto the sattle of the horse. Heero mounted and looked at his sister. The corners of her eyes glistened with tears.
"Look for me in the kingdom of the elves. Magic is involved and I know that this cannot be defeated with mere swords and arrows."
"Brother I will search for you. I swear it. In daylight think of me. On the rainy days look to the north where the Drylanda orchids grow and remember my scent. Do not forget to search for me as well. I dare not live without you near me!"
"Heero andelu i ven."
"The road will be more dangerous for you. For me it is but an adventure. Be careful and do not forget me."
"You are eternally my brother." Evelyn said blowing a kiss and prayer to him. *Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i valar tielyanna nu vilya.* Out of outrage to Arden, Evelyn tracked up the great winding stairs into the castle and stood in front of the king and Arden.
"You have done a wrong justice father and it will not go unnoticed. Heero has always gone out of his way to help the people of our great Kingdom and now you are to let this cruel and unjust man take the throne after your death?"
"Silence! Of all the years that you have lived under my rule have I ever heard such an untrue and hateful statement to an honorable man." Arden smiled and lowered his head to the ear of the king. He whispered in a low tone. The king left his throne as Evelyn eyed Arden.
~*~*~*~Heero~*~*~*~
Night had already fallen so quickly and Heero rode off swiftly. He saw that the soil was soft from morning rainfall. He slowed and mounted off his horse to take a closer look at the ground. He saw fresh horse tracks and calculated that there were at least a dozen horses. Before he could stand completely he was hit by darkness.
